The John M Rivers Jr Foundation concentrates philanthropic support in Charleston-area institutions, primarily funding local private education, arts, and faith-based organizations. Its largest and repeated investments are in Ashley Hall School (campus wellness/maintenance and student wellness), while meaningful gifts to the Gibbes Museum and a local parish suggest a preference for cultural and religious organizations and memorial/honor gift giving. Grants appear focused, targeted, and locally rooted rather than broadly distributed geographically or by cause.
John M Rivers Jr Foundation’s most distinctive pattern is its repeated support for Ashley Hall School, including a $50,000 grant in 2024 for scholarships, Greek/Latin, and athletics, followed by additional gifts in 2023 and 2025-2026 for wellness and campus upkeep. That recurrence points to a funder that backs specific Charleston institutions over time rather than spreading grants broadly. The foundation also makes sizable gifts to the Gibbes Museum of Art, including support tied to Jonathan Green and later endowment funding for the Rivers Collection, showing a parallel commitment to local cultural assets. Its recent grants also show a mix of education, arts, athletics, and parish support within a largely Charleston-centered portfolio. Camden Military Academy, College of Charleston basketball and tennis programs, Spoleto Festival USA, Trident United Way, and Church of the Good Shepherd all appear in the recent-grants list. The giving pattern suggests targeted support for programs, facilities, and named purposes, with several grants framed as scholarships, operating support, or gifts in honor of individuals. The foundation’s work is local in scope and institution-specific, with repeated funding for the same organizations across multiple years.
In private education, the foundation backed Ashley Hall School with $50,000 in 2024 for scholarships, Greek/Latin, and athletics, plus $20,000 in 2025 and again in 2026 for wellness plans and tree trimming. That mix links student support with campus maintenance and wellbeing. In the arts, it supported Gibbes Museum of Art with $25,000 in 2024 in honor of Jonathan Green and then $25,000 in both 2025 and 2026 for the Rivers Collection endowment. It also gave Spoleto Festival USA $10,000 in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 for annual operating budget support. Athletics appear as a separate theme. Camden Military Academy received $15,000 in 2025 and 2026 for uniforms and soccer equipment, while College of Charleston men’s and women’s basketball received discretionary gifts in multiple years.
The typical grant size is small and clustered: p25 is $1,000, median is $1,000, and p75 is $5,000, even though the foundation sometimes makes larger, targeted awards. The recent record shows repeated grants to the same recipients across multiple years, especially Ashley Hall School, Gibbes Museum of Art, Church of the Good Shepherd, Spoleto Festival USA, and College of Charleston athletics. That points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a family foundation and makes grants; it also funds individuals. Several grants are restricted by purpose, including scholarships, operating support, endowment support, and honor gifts.
$94K
$6M
$5.4M
$141K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Concentrated, mid-size grants to a small set of repeat local beneficiaries; multiple grants to the same institutions (particularly Ashley Hall), with gifts often designated for facilities, wellness, or given as memorial/honor contributions.
Notable grantees: Ashley Hall School, Gibbes Museum of Art, Church of the Good Shepherd
Giving is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in South Carolina: 86% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and SC is the top state by grant count. Charleston is the main center, with grants to Charleston, North Charleston, and nearby institutions such as Ashley Hall School, Gibbes Museum of Art, and Spoleto Festival USA. Other South Carolina recipients include Camden Military Academy in Camden. Outside South Carolina, the recent-grants list also includes Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers, North Carolina, and one grant to BNY Mellon Charitable Gift Fd in Boston, Massachusetts.
The foundation supports Charleston-area private education, arts, athletics, and parish institutions. Recent grants include Ashley Hall School, Gibbes Museum of Art, Spoleto Festival USA, Camden Military Academy, College of Charleston athletics, Trident United Way, and Church of the Good Shepherd.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years: Ashley Hall School, Gibbes Museum of Art, Church of the Good Shepherd, Spoleto Festival USA, Trident United Way, and College of Charleston athletics all received repeated support across 2023-2026.
The distribution is small at the center: p25 is $1,000, median is $1,000, and p75 is $5,000. The recent-grants list also shows larger, targeted awards such as $50,000 to Ashley Hall School and $25,000 to Gibbes Museum of Art.
Its giving is local, with 86% of grants to recipients in South Carolina and SC as the top state by grant count. Charleston is the main city in the recent-grants list, followed by North Charleston and Camden, with a smaller number of grants outside the state.
Recent grants include scholarships, Greek/Latin and athletics support, wellness plans and tree trimming, endowment support, annual operating budget support, annual community campaign support, and gifts made in honor of named individuals.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART | CHARLESTON, SC | $25,000 | 2026 | ENDOWMENT RIVERS COLLECTION |
| CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD | CASHIERS, NC | $20,000 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF ROB WOOD |
| ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL | CHARLESTON, SC | $20,000 | 2026 | WELLNESS PLANS & TREE TRIMMING |
| CAMDEN MILITARY ACADEMY CAMDEN MILITARY ACADEMY | CAMDEN, SC | $15,000 | 2026 | CAMDEN ATHLETICS-UNIFORMS/SOCCER EQ |
| COLLEGE OF CHAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COLLEGE OF CHAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2026 | COACH'S DISCRETION |
| SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET HONOR FOR |
| TRIDENT UNITED WAY TRIDENT UNITED WAY | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN |
| Charleston Parks Conservancy | Charleston, SC | $10,000 | 2026 | Hazel Parker Playground Champion - In honor of various people |
| COLLEGE OF CHAS MENS BASKETBALL COLLEGE OF CHAS MENS BASKETBALL | CHARLESTON, SC | $10,000 | 2026 | COACH'S DISCRETION/HONOR JOHN KRESSE |
| BNY MELLON CHARITABLE GIFT FD BNY MELLON CHARITABLE GIFT FD | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | HONOR DAVID RAWLE'S MOTHER THEODORA |
| Historic Charleston Foundation | Charleston, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | Russell House Support |
| First Tee of Greater Charleston | Mount Pleasant, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | In Honor of College of Charleston Women's Golf Team |
| EMANUEL NINE MEMORIAL EMANUEL NINE MEMORIAL | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF JOHN DARBY |
| SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | SOUTH SYSTEM UPGRADE |
| BYN Mellon Charitable Gift Fund - | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | honor David Rawle's Mother - Theodora Park |
| Confederate Home and College | Charleston, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | Restoration Fund |
| VISION TO LEARN VISION TO LEARN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF HENRY BLACKFORD |
| Church of the Good Shepherd | Cashiers, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | In Honor of Rob Wood and Steve Hennessy |
| Charleston Symphony Orchestra | Charleston, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | In Honor of John F. Maybank |
| CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | COLONIAL LAKE CAP CAMPAIGN-HONOR BEN |
| Charleston Museum | Charleston, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | 250th Anniversary Celebration |
| PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF CHARLESTON PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF CHARLESTON | CHARLESTON, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | HONOR BETSY CAHILL & BRIAN TURNER |
| Vision to Lear - Charleston | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | Student vision testing in Charleston area |
| Charleston Library Society | Charleston, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | Honor of Laura Pelzer and Rutledge Young Jr. |
| UNC CHAPEL HILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIE UNC CHAPEL HILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | HONOR BORDEN HANES,BILL WHITAKER |
| UNC BUSINESS SCHOOL UNC BUSINESS SCHOOL | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | HONOR MARTHA RIVERS & LUTHER COCHRAN |
| Preservation Society of Charleston | Charleston, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | Supplement ID of African/American graveyards in Charleston |
| UNC ARTS & SCIENCES UNC ARTS & SCIENCES | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF NELSON SCHWAB |
| Camden Military Academy | Camden, SC | $5,000 | 2026 | Camden Athletics-Obstacle Course Upfit |
| Drayton Hall Foundation | Charleston, SC | $2,750 | 2026 | To Honor Drayton Family |
| CHARLESTON PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARLESTON PROMISE NEIGHBORHOOD | CHARLESTON, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF TED LEGASEY |
| CHARLESTON STAGE CHARLESTON STAGE | CHARLESTON, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | OPERATING BUDGET |
| Charleston Gaillard Center - Student Access Fund | Charleston, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | 10th Anniversary of the Perforance Hall opening-Education Purposes |
| CHARLESTON LIBRARY SOCIETY CHARLESTON LIBRARY SOCIETY | CHARLESTON, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | HONOR ANNE CLEVELAND & RUTLEDGE YOUN |
| DRAYTON HALL FOUNDATION DRAYTON HALL FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | TO HONOR DRAYTON FAMILY |
| MIDDLETON PLACE FOUNDATION MIDDLETON PLACE FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | HONOR CHARLES H.P. DUELL & RUT YOUNG |
| Middleton Place Foundation | Charleston, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | Honor of Charles H.P. Duel and Rutledge Young Jr. |
| Charleston Stage | Charleston, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | Creativity Fund |
| COLLEGE OF CHAS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS COLLEGE OF CHAS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | CHARLESTON, SC | $2,500 | 2026 | CHARLESTON MUSIC FEST |
| Ashley Hall School | Charleston, SC | $2,000 | 2026 | Head of School's Discretion |
| Boys and Girls Club of the Plateau | Cashiers, NC | $2,000 | 2026 | Given in honor of Paul Robshaw/Linda Benge |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE PLATEAU BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE PLATEAU | CASHIERS, NC | $2,000 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF PAUL ROBSHAW/LINDA BENGE |
| UNC Arts & Sciences | Chapel Hill, NC | $1,500 | 2026 | 50 Year Campaign - Dean's Circle Level |
| ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,500 | 2026 | ECRL GRECO/ROMAN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP |
| HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,500 | 2026 | IN HONOR OF ANNE BLESSING |
| COLLEGE OF CHAS COUGAR CLASSIC COLLEGE OF CHAS COUGAR CLASSIC | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,500 | 2026 | SUPPORING WOMEN'S GOLF |
| SC Historical Society | Charleston, SC | $1,500 | 2026 | In Honor of Dan Ravenel |
| Star Gospel Mission | Charleston, SC | $1,000 | 2026 | In memory of Douglas Donehue |
| Charleston Waterkeeper | Charleston, SC | $1,000 | 2026 | Discretionary Fund |
| COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,000 | 2026 | SHERWOOD STUDY |
GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART
$25,000ENDOWMENT RIVERS COLLECTION
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
$20,000IN HONOR OF ROB WOOD
ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL
$20,000WELLNESS PLANS & TREE TRIMMING
CAMDEN ATHLETICS-UNIFORMS/SOCCER EQ
COLLEGE OF CHAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COLLEGE OF CHAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
$10,000COACH'S DISCRETION
SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA
ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET HONOR FOR
Charleston Parks Conservancy
$10,000Hazel Parker Playground Champion - In honor of various people
COLLEGE OF CHAS MENS BASKETBALL COLLEGE OF CHAS MENS BASKETBALL
$10,000COACH'S DISCRETION/HONOR JOHN KRESSE
BNY MELLON CHARITABLE GIFT FD BNY MELLON CHARITABLE GIFT FD
$10,000HONOR DAVID RAWLE'S MOTHER THEODORA
In Honor of College of Charleston Women's Golf Team
EMANUEL NINE MEMORIAL EMANUEL NINE MEMORIAL
$5,000IN HONOR OF JOHN DARBY
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$5,000SOUTH SYSTEM UPGRADE
Confederate Home and College
$5,000Restoration Fund
Church of the Good Shepherd
$5,000In Honor of Rob Wood and Steve Hennessy
CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY CHARLESTON PARKS CONSERVANCY
$5,000COLONIAL LAKE CAP CAMPAIGN-HONOR BEN
Charleston Museum
$5,000250th Anniversary Celebration
HONOR BETSY CAHILL & BRIAN TURNER
Vision to Lear - Charleston
$5,000Student vision testing in Charleston area
UNC CHAPEL HILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIE UNC CHAPEL HILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
$5,000HONOR BORDEN HANES,BILL WHITAKER
UNC BUSINESS SCHOOL UNC BUSINESS SCHOOL
$5,000HONOR MARTHA RIVERS & LUTHER COCHRAN
Supplement ID of African/American graveyards in Charleston
UNC ARTS & SCIENCES UNC ARTS & SCIENCES
$5,000IN HONOR OF NELSON SCHWAB
Drayton Hall Foundation
$2,750To Honor Drayton Family
IN HONOR OF TED LEGASEY
Charleston Gaillard Center - Student Access Fund
$2,50010th Anniversary of the Perforance Hall opening-Education Purposes
HONOR ANNE CLEVELAND & RUTLEDGE YOUN
DRAYTON HALL FOUNDATION DRAYTON HALL FOUNDATION
$2,500TO HONOR DRAYTON FAMILY
HONOR CHARLES H.P. DUELL & RUT YOUNG
Charleston Stage
$2,500Creativity Fund
COLLEGE OF CHAS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS COLLEGE OF CHAS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
$2,500CHARLESTON MUSIC FEST
Ashley Hall School
$2,000Head of School's Discretion
IN HONOR OF PAUL ROBSHAW/LINDA BENGE
UNC Arts & Sciences
$1,50050 Year Campaign - Dean's Circle Level
ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL ASHLEY HALL SCHOOL
$1,500ECRL GRECO/ROMAN ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
IN HONOR OF ANNE BLESSING
COLLEGE OF CHAS COUGAR CLASSIC COLLEGE OF CHAS COUGAR CLASSIC
$1,500SUPPORING WOMEN'S GOLF
Star Gospel Mission
$1,000In memory of Douglas Donehue
Charleston Waterkeeper
$1,000Discretionary Fund
COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE
$1,000SHERWOOD STUDY